Markers of tissue perfusion and their relation to mortality in dogs with blunt trauma

• Published in: Journal of veterinary emergency and critical care (San Antonio, Tex. : 2000) Tex. : 2000), 2023-01, Vol.33 (1), p.16-21
• Main Authors: Poirier, Maude, Stillion, Jenefer R., Boysen, Søren R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; base excess; blunt trauma; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Electrolytes; hypoperfusion; lactate; Lactic Acid; mortality; Prospective Studies; Retrospective Studies; Wounds, Nonpenetrating - veterinary
• ISSN: 1479-3261; 1476-4431
• DOI: 10.1111/vec.13249

Objective To evaluate admission Animal Trauma Triage (ATT) score, shock index (SI), and markers of perfusion, including base excess (BE), plasma lactate, and lactate clearance in dogs with blunt trauma. Design Prospective observational clinical study from 2013 to 2015. Setting Private veterinary referral and emergency center. Animals Forty‐four client‐owned dogs hospitalized following blunt trauma. Intervention Within 1 hour of presentation and prior to fluid administration an initial hematocrit, total plasma protein, blood glucose, plasma lactate, blood gas, and electrolytes were obtained for analysis. Plasma lactate concentrations were also measured 4 and 8 hours following initial measurement, and a 4‐hour lactate clearance was calculated if patients had an increased admission plasma lactate. ATT score and SI were calculated for each patient based on admission data. Outcome was defined as survival to hospital discharge. Measurements and Main Results Twenty‐nine dogs survived, 14 were euthanized, and 1 died. Nonsurviving dogs had a lower mean pH (7.28 ± 0.03 vs 7.36 ± 0.01, P = 0.006), lower median HCO3 (15.7 vs 18.8 mmol/L, P = 0.004), lower median admission BE (–11.0 vs –7.0 mmol/L, P = 0.004), and higher median admission lactate (3.1 vs 2.4 mmol/L, P = 0.036) than those who survived. Median ATT was significantly higher in nonsurvivors (5 vsF 2, P